Without more life energy, this Dragonite would have barely lived another year.
As the saying goes: one shouldn't bite the hand that feeds.
Lin Yu had already received great blessings on Dragon Island.
Besides,
the giant Dragonite could have just taken the essence by force — yet it offered a fair trade.
And Lin Yu did want a Dratini badly.
Add Xiaoye's feelings into the mix…
this deal was absolutely worth making.
He poured roughly half the essence from the jade bottle and had Latias lift it with Psychic.
The moment the liquid was exposed, its misty glow and overwhelming life energy made the surrounding plants burst with growth.
Withered old trees in the rock cracks sprouted bright green shoots, as if reborn.
The giant Dragonite carefully took the essence and swallowed it in one gulp.
Brilliant green light spread across its body, and Lin Yu watched its life force surge upward.
Amid the hazy glow,
the mountain-sized Dragonite shrank rapidly, like a deflating balloon.
Its loose, wrinkled skin and aged face smoothed out, filled with new vitality.
"No… no way…"
"Huh?!"
Quiet, shocked whispers escaped Ye Tian and Ye Huo.
They couldn't believe a single vial of liquid could change the ancient Dragonite so drastically.
The pressure radiating from it now felt even heavier than the clan head's Champion-tier Dragonite.
Standing before it felt like facing a god, not just a Pokémon.
But it had been growing old, visibly fading with each passing year.
Every time they saw it, it looked weaker than before.
The clan elders had tried everything, discreetly buying up every life-boosting treasure they could find —
the whole outside world knew about it, let alone the clan's younger members.
This Dragonite's status and importance were beyond their imagination.
And now…
Lin Yu had healed it?
The glow continued, and the sound of its powerful heartbeat thundered like a war drum.
"Bro, what is that?"
Xiaoye watched curiously as Lin Yu put away the remaining Life Essence.
"The life essence of Xerneas. It's incredibly valuable."
Lin Yu grinned. "Once I make Energy Cubes with it, I'll split them with you."
He didn't hold back with Xiaoye at all.
After all,
with his system, he could always buy more.
It was just expensive.
"Xerneas?"
Ye Qingxue tilted her head, confused.
Lin Yu suddenly remembered that Xerneas, the deer-like Life Pokémon, didn't exist in this world yet.
"A really powerful Pokémon."
"Oh… that's amazing! It must be super precious. I can't take it."
Xiaoye's Dragon Master Power was the strongest among them.
Other than Lin Yu, only she could truly grasp how powerful the giant Dragonite was.
In a way, it was the Ye clan's pillar.
As long as it lived, the Ye family feared no one.
Its importance was immeasurable.
"Huh? Got rich all of a sudden and turning down my gifts?"
Lin Yu saw right through her.
"No, no!" Ye Qingxue panicked.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Yu laughed.
"Bro…!"
Xiaoye realized she'd been teased again and huffed, "You're messing with me again."
Just then,
the light around Dragonite faded completely. Its body shrank another third —
still huge, but far more normal-looking.
Lin Yu checked its level.
Still 99. But its lifespan stretched out immeasurably.
It now had time to attempt Level 100 once more.
In a sense,
Lin Yu had given it a second life.
"Thank you, human."
The Dragonite bowed slightly, landing on the ground. Its bright eyes locked onto Lin Yu. "Dragon Island will always be open to you."
It stared deeply at him, as if engraving his appearance into memory, then spread its wings and flew off.
It needed to stabilize the life energy it had just absorbed, which was why it left in such a hurry.
"Little Brother Lin Yu… I spoke out of turn earlier. I hope you can forgive me."
Ye Tian walked over, filled with regret.
If he'd upset Lin Yu and made him leave early,
the giant Dragonite might never have been healed.
The thought chilled him.
"It's fine, really."
Lin Yu waved it off.
It was a win-win for everyone.
"The next batch of Dratini will hatch around October. Bro, why not come back then to pick one? They're amazing~"
Now that the Dragonite had promised Lin Yu full access, Xiaoye brought it up again.
"October?"
Lin Yu felt a surge of anticipation.
He never expected this trip to the capital would let him earn two pseudo-legendary Pokémon!
Xiaoye counted on her slender fingers.
"Yep. Usually, us Ye clan members bond with Dratini eggs here. It helps them get used to Dragon Master Power, so the boosts work even better later."
"I'll talk to Dad and ask him to let you go through the Dragon Master Power ritual too. Then you can fully awaken your power…"
She was already planning his future for him.
She turned to her two cousins.
"You two will help me convince them, right?!"
"Uh…"
The two exchanged glances and nodded.
If the elders found out the giant Dragonite was healed, they might actually agree —
even share the clan's exclusive Dragon Master Power with Lin Yu.
"Ahem, you don't need to go that far. I already have Dragon Master Power."
Lin Yu coughed lightly. A faint Dragon-type energy flowed from his body and brushed against Latias.
She looked at him in surprise, then wrapped her wing-arms around him and pressed her head gently on top of his, clearly happy.
(●'◡'●): Lin Yu has another nice, warm feeling now~
"Huh?!"
The two cousins gasped. "That's impossible!"
Xiaoye just smiled proudly. "See? Bro's amazing."
She grabbed his hand. "We're all the way by the ocean — let's go play on the beach!"
"Uh…"
Before Lin Yu could hesitate,
Xiaoye signaled Latias to pick him up, then hopped onto her back too.
She and Latias had clearly planned this.
Ye Tian and Ye Huo stood there, staring blankly at each other.
"Should we follow?"
"Follow? To watch them be all lovey-dovey? No wonder you don't have a girlfriend, Ye Huo!"
"Shut up! You don't have one either!"
"Sorry, I do. Look, this is my girlfriend —"
"Ahhh! You're the worst!"
On the beach,
Lin Yu finally understood why Xiaoye had worn that white dress.
Ocean waves, a flowing white skirt, splashing water…
and the girl's clear, joyful laughter.
It was perfect.